ROOSTER - RoosterWhen Rooster first released "Come Get
Some" we were the first to admit that we were sceptical. It wasn't the
fact that people were quick to compare them to the likes of Busted or McFly,
it was the fact that they sounded like a carbon copy of Brit Rockers Reef.
When "Staring At The Sun" stole the riff from Oasis' "Champagne Supernova"
and a middle eight from Haven it became a running joke in the office as
to which indie band they would steal from next. However an instore appearance
at HMV proved to us that Rooster are more than just another pop-rock crossover
band, they had more in common with the Britpop bands of old than the Noise
Next Door. "Standing In Line" sounds like The Rolling Stones and Free,
"Platinum Blind" has a huge Led Zep style riff that John Squire would give
his right arm for on "The Second Coming". "Deep And Meaningless" sits somewhere
between Bon Jovi and Robbie Williams, but somehow remains listenable with
blues licks all over the place. In 12 months time Rooster could be the
biggest band in Britain...and let's face it, rather them than Keane - 8/10

THE EXPLOSION - Black TapeBoston punk band The Explosion have split
fans with their "Black Tape" album and without hearing their 2 previous
independent albums it's hard to gauge why. Coming across somewhere between
a high gloss version of the Clash and a rough and ready Green Day the band
maul their way through 12 tracks. The Explosion are one of those bands
who bottle and distil the true sound of punk rock to three minutes. Anger,
disillusionment and despair are omnipresent, but the delivery is one universal
message that demands you jump around like a nutter. "Filthy Insane", "I
Know" and "Grace" are modern punk classics whether this major label debut
sells 20 copies or 2 million. - 9/10

DAYS OF WORTH - The Western MechanismDays Of Worth's "The Western Mechanism"
starts off as a direction less dirge for the first four tracks and then
"Take Me Through" kicks in and it all makes sense. It's a shame because
at least half this album has all the hallmarks of a great debut album.
Opener "Standard Suburban Anthem" in truth could be any local rock band,
at best it's a good tribute to Therapy. It's the same for the tracks leading
up to the aforementioned "Take Me Through". An urgent track bursting with
energetic buzzsaw guitars until the breakdown of "be quiet, be quiet I
can't hear myself think". "Youth Base Setter" sounds like Manson, shiny
clear guitar riffs melting down to the crunching power chords and 3 piece
harmonies. "Narcolepsy" with it's driving bass line could quite easily
be a comeback song from the reformed Pixies. Buy this album, download the
last 6 tracks to your MP3 player and you've got the best tracks from a
hit and miss debut. - 6/10

THE GA GA'S - Tonight The Midway ShinesWe've seen The Ga Ga's live so many times
it's hard to separate "Tonight The Midway Shines" from the live shows.
The image is so intertwined with the music it's almost impossible hear
the likes of "Sex" or "Swallow Me" without thinking of Tommy and the boys
sleazing their way across the country with nubile girls in plentiful supply.
It's this decadence and obedience to rock n roll which makes their arrival
on the scene ever more important. For too long the rock scene has been
taken over by nice boys you could take home to your mum - The Ga Gas would
probably try to f*ck your mum.

"Swallow Me" with it's the immortal line "They
couldn't swallow me. They couldn't suck and see. So f**king dead inside"
sums up what the band are about in a succinct lyrical couplet. It's musical
twin "The Real World" should be the track that takes them over ground from
their present King Adora style cult status. Elsewhere on "Severed" they
prove they have more to their musical palate than 3 minute rock classics
with a ballad which soars.

The fact that The Ga Gas are at a stage where
they can still connect with the fans on a personal basis is what makes
the live shows such an experience. This album proves though that they should
be playing arena's. - 8/10

PATRICK WOLF - Wind In The Wires"Patrick Wolf's "Lycanthropy" was one of
those album's that had the touch of a free spirit at work. Wolf was a man
(or a boy at the time) not afraid to take risks and while being experimental
it was still an essential pop album that took as much from The Pet Shop
Boys as it did from Alec Empire and obscure folk records. The follow up
"Wind In The Wires" has similar spirit, but there's a dark melancholy running
through it reminiscent of Nick Cave. With the exception of "The Libertine",
"Tristan" and "Lands End" it makes for uneasy listening and as such makes
for an accompanying partner to the debut rather than a progression. - 6/10